Translation of Phraseological Units

Rendering of Stylistic Meaning in Translation

Every word is stylistically marked according to the layer of the vocabulary it belongs to. Stylistically words can be subdivided into litera ry and non-literary. (See I. R. Galperin, op. cit. - p.63.) The stylistic function of the different strata of the English vocabulary depends not so much on the inner qualities of each of the groups as on their interaction when opposed to one another.(l. R. Galperin, op. cit. - p.68.) Care should be taken to render stylistic meaning

If you don't keep your yap shut "...» (J.Salinger) Если ты не заткнёшься /пер. Э. Медниковой/ Then he really let one go at me (ibid.) - Тут он мне врезал по-настоящему.

It would be an error to translate a neutral or a literary word by a colloquial one. A mistake of this type occurs in the excellent translation of Henry Esmond by E. Kalashnikova:

"She had recourse to the ultimo ratio of all women and burst into tears." - «Она прибегла к ultimo ratio всех женщин и ударилась в слёзы».

Phraseological units may be classified into three big groups:

phraseological fusions, phraseological unities and phraseological collocations.

Phraseological fusions are usually rendered by interpreting translation: to show the white feather - быть трусом; to dine with Duke Humphry - остаться без обеда. Sometimes they have word-equivalents: red tape - волокита, to pull one's leg - одурачивать, мистифицировать.

The meaning of a phraseological fusion may often be rendered by a series of alternative phrases, e.g. to go the whole hog -делать что-либо основательно, доводить до конца, не останавливаться на полумерах, идти на всё (словарь А.Кунина).

According to the principles of their translation phraseological unities can be divided into four groups;

1) Phraseological unities having Russian counterparts with the same meaning and simailar images. They can often be traced to the same prototype: biblical, mythological, etc.

All that glitters is not gold. - He всё золото, что блестит.

As a man sows, so he shall reap. - Что посеешь, то и пожнёшь.

2) Phraseological unities having the same meaning but expressing it through a_-different- image.

То buy a pig in a poke. - Купить кота в мешке.

Phraseological units of the source-language sometimes have synonymous equivalents in the target-language. The choice is open to the translator and is often determined by the context.

Between the devil and the deep sea - между двух огней, между молотом и наковальней; в безвыходном положении.

In the absence of a correlated phraseological unity the translator resorts to interpreting translation.

A skeleton in the closet (cupboard) - Семейная тайна, неприятность, скрываемая от посторонних.

Target-language equivalents having a local colour should be avoided. "To carry coals to Newcastle" should not be translated by the Russian - ездить в Тулу со своим самоваром. In this case two solutions are possible: a) to preserve the image of the English phraseological unity - ездить в Ньюкасл со своим углём, b) to resort to interpreting translation - заниматься бесполезным делом.

3) Phraseological unities having no equivalents in Russian are rendered by interpreting translation. Little pitches have long ears. - Дети лобят слушать разговоры взрослых.

4)Phraseological unities having word equivalents: shake a leg - отплясывать, hang fire-мешкать,медлить,задерживаться.
Translation of Phraseological Collocations

Phraseological collocations are motivated but they are made up of words possessing specific lexical valency which accounts for a certain degree of stability in such word groups.

They may be translated by corresponding phraseological collocations of the target-language: to take part - принимать участие, to throw a glance - бросить взгляд. They may be also translated by a word (to take part - участвовать) or a free word group (to take one's temperature - измерить температуру).

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